First Underpainting Officially Begun

This week I’ve still mostly wrapping up loose ends so that I can fully focus on my new collection. I have started the acrylic underpainting on the first piece and I’m SUPER excited to finally be underway:

I’d like to have at least a few brand new pieces finished my the time my art show starts in October at the Sheep River Library here in Diamond Valley.

One of the main ‘loose ends’ this week has been completing two old paintings in the same style as Autumn’s portrait - glowing, full of light, sparkling. They are basically finished minus a few very small finishing touches and refinements:

I’ve been reflecting a lot on what it means to return to something unfinished—with new eyes, new faith, and a heart that’s finally found rest.

As I’ve been putting the finishing touches on these paintings that were originally part of the Firmament collection—paintings I started when I was still searching for meaning in the middle of a very painful season.

At the time, I was on medical leave from med school. My health was really awful, my future felt uncertain, and I was desperately trying to find a way forward. These paintings held my search for answers - for something MORE, but no matter how I tried and how many layers I added, they just did NOT feel right…

Now, years later after coming to faith and being saved in Christ, I spontaneously found a way to complete them through Autumn’s portrait. It’s as if the answers I was longing for back then have been given to me, and I can finally close that chapter by completing the work.

And it’s come to me that I would love to gift them.

Once my fall art show wraps up at the Sheep River Library this October & November, I’ll be doing a special giveaway for these two pieces. They’ll be shipped to 2 winners in early December—just in time for Christmas to keep or gift as something unique & meaningful.

I’ll share all the details soon in a future email, but I wanted you to be the first to know.

 Reply to this email if you’re interested and which painting you like more. As part of this list and as a thank you for your support, your name will be added to the giveaway 3x for every person who enters when it goes public.

Last week, I accidentally shared the wrong title for the wolf painting in the Dominion & Wonder collection. It’s not “Veiled Strength”—that title actually belongs to a horse piece in Ash & Essence.

The correct name for this painting is “Lumis.”

I shared this on Instagram recently, but I’ll say it again here because I love this description:

The name Lumis carries a sense of light and steadfastness. As I painted it, I kept thinking about the kind of strength that isn’t flashy or loud—but faithful. Like the kind described in Isaiah 30:15: “In quietness and trust shall be your strength.” This wolf doesn’t dominate the landscape, but inhabits it with calm authority. It reminded me that true strength often looks like stillness, self-control, and staying rooted even when it’s hard to see what’s ahead. That’s what I hoped to capture in Lumis—a picture of quiet courage and unwavering presence.

The full Dominion & Wonder collection will be available to view on my website soon. I don’t have a date in mind for the limited print drop as my focus right now is on my new collection and just to create, but if you’re interested in an original or print, you can simply reply to this email.

I’m truly so grateful for you - thank you for being here.

Warmly with love,

Martina